Ashridge House has announced it will be offering a bespoke dining festive experience and magical illuminated woodland walk in the heart of Hertfordshire next month.
After what has been a relentless year for many due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, this newly-announced event – The Enchanted Garden Globes – will be the perfect festive antidote to round-up a turbulent 2020, and will give you the chance to escape reality for an evening.
Now I know what you’re thinking… “Hertfordshire is f****** three away!”
We hear you. But if things go to plan, this could be the perfect post-lockdown weekend getaway right slap bang in the middle of the Christmas period that we didn’t even think we’d get.
And for the first time ever, the private gardens of this magnificent former palace will be transformed into a magical festive dining experience to “surprise and delight the senses”.
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The Enchanted Garden Globes have been specifically created to accommodate the ‘rule of six’.
The globes have been built bespoke for extraordinary views across the park at Ashridge House and will be heated and dressed for a truly unique festive experience.
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As part of the experience, guests will also be invited into the winter mist to enjoy a bespoke illuminated woodland walk with beautiful light installations, secret hideaways, tunnels of falling stars, hot toddies, glittering grottos and surprise encounters along the way.
Ashridge House Presents: The Enchanted Garden Globes, a festive private dining experience Opening a little later than planned, we are delighted to announce our Enchanted Garden Globes and illuminated woodland walk are now available from 3rd December! https://t.co/JJ0am0iJ3Upic.twitter.com/8mNL5hAwpS
From the magnificent vaulted entrance of twinkling Christmas trees, to the spectacular Harry Potter staircase and the spellbinding yuletide outdoor wonderland, The Enchanted Garden Globes is described as a “magical dining experience like no other”.
What makes Ashridge House the perfect place for a festive staycation getaway then?
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Once a royal residence to King Henry VIII and home to his daughter – Princess Elizabeth I – Ashridge House is a hidden gem in leafy Hertfordshire, only 30 miles from London and surrounded by 190 acres of “quintessentially English gardens”.
With grand, turreted façades and historic grounds, Ashridge House is a truly enchanting festive backdrop.
The Enchanted Garden Globes at Ashridge House
After a challenging 2020, the The Enchanted Garden Globes – which are taking place at a range of dates between 3rd – 31st December and with new dates in January 2021 set to be announced – will offer guests the perfect woodland escape and bring some much-needed Christmas magic to the year.
There are two bespoke dining packages to choose from:
The Lunch Experience
12pm – 4pm
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£90per person – Private Dome (x6 guests per globe)
Arrival glass of fizz.
Spiced mulled wine.
Four-course festive feast dining experience, paired with glass of wine.
Tea & coffee post lunch.
Private dining Garden Globe accommodating up to six guests for four hours (with private sound system, heating and cosy lighting).
Full access to the Enchanted Woodland Walk and Ashridge Gardens.
Festive entertainment and fun.
The Enchanted Garden Globes at Ashridge House
The Dinner Experience
6pm – 10pm
£155 per person – Private Dome (x6 guests per globe)
Arrival glass of fizz.
Spiced mulled wine.
Five-course festive feast dining experience, paired with half a bottle of wine.
Tea & coffee post dinner.
Private dining Garden Globe accommodating up to six guests for four hours (with private sound system, heating and cosy lighting).
Full access to the Enchanted Woodland Walk and Ashridge Gardens – illuminated light trail.
Festive entertainment and fun, including ‘Santa’s Secret Grotto’.
You can book your tickets to The Enchanted Garden Globes and find more information – including menus and the property’s COVID-19 response – via the Ashridge House website here.
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UK’s best and worst parcel delivery companies named following new research
Emily Sergeant
Some eye-opening new research has revealed the best and worst parcel delivery companies in the UK ahead of Christmas.
With the festive season fast approaching and many already in the process of Christmas shopping, Citizens Advice has released its annual parcel league tables, ranking the UK’s five major delivery companies in order from best to worst based on their overall performance.
From chasing missing parcels, and battling arduous complaints systems, to even having accessibility requests ignored, Citizens Advice found through its latest research that more than a third (37%) faced issues with their most recent delivery – which works out to roughly around 15 million people, a new record.
The research – which was carried out in a ‘snapshot’ one-month period – reveals that the rate of parcel problems remains at the highest levels seen in half a decade.
Now in its fifth year, the charity’s league table looks at the top five delivery companies by parcel volume and measures their performance against criteria to determine who is the best.
The criteria each company is measured against includes customer service, delivery problems, and how well they meet accessibility needs, such as people needing louder knocking or longer to answer the door.
This year’s parcel league table shows Royal Mail scored the highest with 3.25 out of five stars overall, while Yodel slips to the bottom with just two out of five stars.
UK’s top 5 parcel delivery companies
Royal Mail – 3.25 out of 5 stars
Amazon Logistics – 3 out of 5 stars
DPD – 2.5 out of 5 stars
Evri – 2.5 out of 5 stars
Yodel – 2 out of 5 stars
Citizens Advice found through its new research that accessibility was the worst performing area overall, and this is despite Ofcom’s new condition requiring firms to give disabled consumers the opportunity to report their accessibility needs.
There was also customer service failures, with almost half (47%) of the people who had a problem with their initial delivery going on to have further issues trying to resolve the problem.
Research found that the most common problems customers faced with their last delivery include the driver leaving before they had time to get to the door (29%), their parcel being left in an insecure location (24%), and parcels arriving late (24%).
The UK’s best and worst parcel delivery companies have been named / Credit: Evri (Press Picture)
“Ofcom has passed the parcel of responsibility for long enough,” commented Dame Clare Moriarty, who is the Chief Executive of Citizens Advice.
“We’ve been doing the work of the regulator for five years now by holding parcel companies to account and speaking up for consumers who are bearing the brunt of persistently poor service.
“Our league table has tracked parcel problems from warehouse to doorstep. We continue to see millions of people chasing lost parcels, having their accessibility needs ignored and hitting a brick wall when they try to complain.
“The question now is whether the regulator will take tougher action to improve the parcel market once and for all.”
Featured Image – Amazon (Press Picture)
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Tesco unveils Britain’s favourite Christmas meal deal – is yours on here?
Thomas Melia
Supermarket giant Tesco has announced brand-new data revealing Britain’s favourite Christmas meal deals.
But has yours made the cut?
Of course, Christmas is famed for its food, especially the Christmas dinner, but nowadays, the days leading up to the big day have also become filled with foodie feasts, and nothing proves this more than the popularity of the Christmas meal deal – something which Tesco, arguably, knows how to do better than anyone else.
Tesco has been actively tracking the nation’s everyday eating trends all year long, and now that the festive season’s here, shoppers favourite Christmas meal deals have been announced.
It seems meal deal lovers are eager to get into the Christmas spirit, with the best-selling main being the Tesco Turkey and Trimmings Sandwich.
Tesco has unveiled Britain’s favourite festive meal deal / Credit: Tesco plc | The Manc Group
This roast dinner-inspiredbutty has been purchased over 2.5 million times between October and December 2024, and it was so popular, in fact, that it was chosen almost three times as often as this year’s runner up – Tesco Jingle Brie Sandwich.
To pair with this much-loved sandwich is the classic Mccoy’s Flame Grilled Steak Crisps, which are championing the snack category overtaking last year’s champion, Egg Protein Pot, which finished third this year.
And if you’re wondering what beverage Brits are pairing with their lunchtime combinations, it’s none other than Coca-Cola 500ml.
This will come as no surprise to any avid meal deal fans, as this drink has worn the crown as the nation’s favourite drink, not just during Christmas but the whole of 2024 itself.
Tesco top 10 festive meal deal mains (October – December 2024)
1.
Tesco Turkey & Trimmings Sandwich
2.
Tesco Jingle Brie Sandwich
3.
Tesco Yuletide Half ‘N’ Half Sandwich
4.
Tesco Christmas Wrapped Up
5.
Tesco Festive Chicken & Trimmings Sub
6.
Tesco Ho-Ho-Hog Wrap
7.
The Gym Kitchen Chicken Bacon & Stuffing Sandwich
8.
Tesco Cracking Currywurst Sub
9.
Tesco Finest Festive Chicken & Bacon with Gravy Mayonnaise Dip
“Turkey isn’t just for the big day, our customers love bringing festive flavours to their lunchtimes even as early as October,” commented Sarah Bryer, who is the Product Development Manager for Tesco Meal Deal.
“With the crowd-pleasing Turkey and Trimmings Sandwich back again, this year’s line-up of Meal Deal mains has something to suit both traditionalists and those looking for something new with the addition of our Honey Ham, Red Leicester and Festive Chutney Sandwich, Finest Brie and Bacon Brioche Bagel, and Tesco Plant Chef Festive Feast Wrap.“
Emily Sergeant -
13th November 2020 
